Officials mum on prison land sale details

Corrections presented plan to governor

Published: Monday, June 18, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, June 17, 2007 at 11:00 p.m.

The Alabama Department of Corrections has given Gov. Bob Riley a plan to sell prison lands to fill a $30 million gap in its operating budget.

But neither the department nor the governor’s office will reveal the details.

Corrections officials met with Riley just over a week ago and presented him with what department spokesman Brian Corbett called “Plan A" for selling the land.

The governor took the plan under ad-visement and was to meet with prison officials Tuesday but the meeting was postponed.

Prison officials were prepared to present a modified plan to the governor Tues-day. But Corbett said he could not reveal details about what prison land would be sold if the governor approved either the original plan or the modified plan.

The land-sale plan will stay under wraps until approved, he said.

Governor’s office spokeswoman Tara Hutchison said it would not be appropriate to release details of the land-sale plan because it is still a “draft."

Two weeks ago, supervisors at the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch near Greensboro informed employees that the Department of Corrections would sell about 3,600 acres of Cattle Ranch land and shut down the prison farm’s catfish and cattle farming operation. Department of Corrections officials said land at several prison facilities is being considered for sale.

The proposed sale would come after the controversial sale in April of 540 acres of State Cattle Ranch land known as West End Swamp for $1.6 million. Some hunters and fishermen who used the land for recreation had adamantly opposed the sale.

Reach Robert DeWitt at robert.dewitt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0203 or 866-400-8477, ext. 203.

<p>The Alabama Department of Corrections has given Gov. Bob Riley a plan to sell prison lands to fill a $30 million gap in its operating budget.</p><p>But neither the department nor the governor’s office will reveal the details.</p><p>Corrections officials met with Riley just over a week ago and presented him with what department spokesman Brian Corbett called Plan A" for selling the land.</p><p>The governor took the plan under ad-visement and was to meet with prison officials Tuesday but the meeting was postponed.</p><p>Prison officials were prepared to present a modified plan to the governor Tues-day. But Corbett said he could not reveal details about what prison land would be sold if the governor approved either the original plan or the modified plan.</p><p>The land-sale plan will stay under wraps until approved, he said.</p><p>Governor’s office spokeswoman Tara Hutchison said it would not be appropriate to release details of the land-sale plan because it is still a draft."</p><p>Two weeks ago, supervisors at the Farquhar State Cattle Ranch near Greensboro informed employees that the Department of Corrections would sell about 3,600 acres of Cattle Ranch land and shut down the prison farm’s catfish and cattle farming operation. Department of Corrections officials said land at several prison facilities is being considered for sale.</p><p>The proposed sale would come after the controversial sale in April of 540 acres of State Cattle Ranch land known as West End Swamp for $1.6 million. Some hunters and fishermen who used the land for recreation had adamantly opposed the sale.</p><p>Reach Robert DeWitt at robert.dewitt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0203 or 866-400-8477, ext. 203.</p>